Sloppy Joes

1 pound ground beef
1/2 large onion, diced
1/2 bell pepper, diced (optional)
2 Tablespoons ketchup
1 Tablespoon mustard
1 can chicken gumbo soup

 Begin browning ground beef. When it begins to brown, add onion (and pepper, if using) and cook together with ground beef until both are cooked through. Add additional ingredients and cook until heated through. Serve on hamburger or slider buns.

Beef Stroganoff

1/2 c minced onion
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 c butter
1 lb ground beef
2 T flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/4 tsp. paprika
1/4 tsp. MSG (optional)
1 lb fresh, or 8 oz. canned mushrooms
(1) 10.5-oz can cream of chicken soup
1 cup sour cream
2 T minced parsley

Saute onion and garlic in butter. Stir in meat and brown. Stir in flour, salt, pepper, paprika, MSG and mushrooms. Cook for 5 minutes. Stir in soup. Simmer uncovered for 10 minutes. Stir in sour cream. Heat through. Sprinkle with parsley. Serve over hot rice, noodles or baked potatoes.

Yield: 6 servings

Note: Mom does not use paprika, MSG or butter.

Meat Loaf

1 1/2 lbs. ground beef

1 can tomato sauce

1 egg, beaten

1/4 c. chopped onion

3/4 c. uncooked quick oats

1 1/2. salt

1/4 tsp. pepper

Combine all ingredients into a nice mush, place in loaf pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hr, 15 minutes or until cooked through.